Safe Sleep

Have you ever been targeted on instagram or facebook by an ad for some sort of sleep device that is guaranteeing that your baby will sleep better or longer? Whether it’s a swaddle or baby straight jacket (The Merlin Suit….), a cosleeping device, a pacifier, or anything else- I guarantee you that the majority of the sales of these products come from exhausted Moms who are desperate for the “answer”. I can say this because I was one of them. I bought quite a few products during my daughters 4 month progression. I was desperate for sleep and desperate for the “answer”. My answer didn’t come until about a month later, when she was 5 months and she suddenly slept 6 hours straight without waking. What was the magical product? ME. My body. She didn’t need anything to help her sleep, she just needed her Mom.

Unfortunately, on facebook groups and in conversations, I often hear of parents using things like cosleepers/infant loungers or even swings or the rock n play for their babies to sleep in overnight. But here’s the cold, hard, truth: None of these things are approved for safe sleep and none are meant to be overnight sleep devices for your babies. Despite what the marketing may have you think. Most, or all, of these websites have a newer page dedicated to safety and all clearly state that these are not meant for babies to sleep in unsupervised. Unfortunately, these safety warnings use to not exist and some parents still hear from well-meaning friends that one or more of these products was their saving grace when it came to sleep.

For any of the infant loungers, suffocation risk exists. For a swing or rock n play, they are not positioned at an appropriate angle and their heads could fall forward, restricting airways. This is the same reason babies should not sleep in carseats outside of the car.

Your two options for the safest sleep is alone in a crib/bassinet/pack n play or in your bed, using safe bedsharing guidelines. See the safe sleep 7 for those.